In beginning this assignment and reflecting on any recent, or for that matter any conflicts I have ever had at work, I can honestly say after all these years there is only one I can remember. And this conflict, that did lead to a somewhat heated argument, occurred about four years ago, when I arrived here to my new site. And I can honestly say that after being at one particular center, for so many years, almost ten years, and knowing everybody, this too was an adjustment, getting to know and work with new people.
This particular disagreement resulted from a very strong difference of opinions between myself and a fellow colleague that at the time had been stationed at my preschool center, but who technically wasn't part of my staff or my center. And it was as if from the moment she arrived, there were immediate issues of conflict among her and my entire newly assigned staff. "Conflict comes about from differences-in needs, values and motivations. Sometimes through these differences we complement each other, but sometimes we will conflict. Conflict is not a problem itself-it is what we do with it that counts" (http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3).
And for me this was something that was completely new to me, not conflict itself, but conflict in a department, that I had basically never had any problems or conflicts up until this point. But I can honestly say that in the end, after going through one extremely difficult school year, I did learn a lot about about my new staff and colleagues, as well as a lot about myself, not only as a person, but also as a Supervisor, who values the importance of positive, and effective nonviolent communication skills. "NVC involves both communication skills that foster compassionate relating and consciousness of the interdependence of our well being and using power with others to work together to meet the needs of all concerned" (http://www.cnvc.org/Training/NVC-Concepts).
In choosing two strategies that I have learned are relevant, especially as a result of my personal and professional experience, I would have to say they are compassion and compromise. And I chose these two, because I feel they are the best strategies, and defense mechanisms, when dealing with difficult people, or situations, that have now led to conflicts. And for me in my conflict at work they were definitely strategies and skills that I really feel helped me with my difficult situation, as well as re-enforced for me what it takes to really become a positive, and effective supervisor. "They are skills that enable us to bypass personal differences and to open up to possibilities. The skills of CR draw us close to other people, as we jointly search for fair solutions and balanced needs, It involves a powerful shift from adversaries to co-operative partners, in this shift each person benefits" (http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3).
References:
Conflict Resolution Network. (n.d.). CR kit. Retrieved from http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3
The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d.). The center for nonviolent communication. Retrieved from http://www.cnvc.org/
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